One in seven used vehicles have finance owed

Athlone Advertiser, Thu, Feb 22, 2018

Vehicle data expert, Cartell.ie reports that the proportion of vehicles offered for sale (across all years ) with finance outstanding is 14.3 per cent, up from 12.5 per cent in July last year and 11.5 per cent in January, 2017.

This is a further reminder for buyers to check for outstanding finance on any second-hand vehicle they are considering buying.

From a sample of some 5,906 vehicles offered for sale and checked via the Cartell.ie website in 2017, it was found overall levels of finance have increased 24.3 per cent in the 12 months since January, and 51 per cent in 18 months since June, 2016, when the rate recorded was 9.5 per cent. Cartell.ie’s legal and public relations manager, John Byrne said 14.3 per cent of all vehicles checked with Cartell.ie so far in 2017 have finance outstanding, up from 11.5 per cent in January and 9.5 per cent in June, 2016.

“These are very significant jumps,” he said. “To give you some idea where we are coming from, the levels of finance outstanding was seven per cent in December, 2014, meaning the rate has doubled in three years. A buyer is advised to check a vehicle for outstanding finance as the finance house owns the vehicle until the last payment has been made – the bottom line is that you can lose the vehicle.”